Chris Dodd For President ?

NEW YORK — Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd announced Thursday he will run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, saying problems at home and abroad meant it was time for him to “get out of the bleachers and onto the arena floor.”

Dodd, a 26-year Senate veteran, told the “Imus in the Morning” radio show he will file paperwork to establish a campaign committee later in the day.

“I know how to do this. I know what has to be done. I’m going to get out and make my case,” Dodd said. He described himself as a dark horse in a Democratic field dominated by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama _ neither of whom have yet entered the race.

“There’s a heightened sense of urgency about the condition of the country. But it isn’t just Iraq _ there are problems here at home that are huge,” Dodd said. He said he planned to focus on issues like education, energy policy and health care in his campaign.

Dodd planned to travel late Thursday to Iowa, home to the first nominating caucus in January 2008. On Sunday, Dodd intended to visit South Carolina, an early primary state.